Toddler Suffers Brain Injury While in Foster Care

A two-year-old's brain injury calls for an examination of the child welfare system.

Denalee Chapman
January 19, 2015

In November 2012, in the Las Vegas area, a two-year-old in foster care suffered severe brain injury because of being shaken. His caregiver left him with a babysitter without the approval of Family Services. When the boy couldn’t open one eye later that night, his caregiver took him to the hospital where part of his skull was removed to make room for the brain swelling. The shaking also caused a stroke and a series of seizures. The babysitter was arrested. This incident prompted investigation into the rules and regulations governing foster parents.

In September of 2014 Supreme Court Justice Nancy Saitta “called for a blue ribbon committee to examine short comings in the Clark County child welfare system and courts,” according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. Saitta told the Review Journal, “These children deserve better, and I get no sense of urgency on the part of the system. This committee will identify the most serious issues in the child welfare system and work with county officials to make sure they are corrected quickly.”

But the mother and grandparents of the little boy who suffered brain injury while in foster care aren’t appeased with the progress that has been made since the Blue Ribbon Committee began working. They are suing Clark County’s child welfare system as well as specific individuals who work within the system. It is hoped they will go to trial later this year or early in 2016.

Denalee Chapman

Denalee is an adoptive mother, a motivational speaker, a writer, and a lover of life. She and her husband have adventured through the hills and valleys of life to find that the highest highs and the lowest lows are equally fulfilling. Book Denalee to speak to your group, or find Denalee's writings, including her books on her website at DenaleeChapman.com.

Want to contact an adoption professional?

Subscribe for FREE to the Best of Adoption.com eMagazinePrivacy Policy

Love this? Want more?

Sign up for our newsletter and never miss out on the best adoption content!

Claim Your FREE Adoption Summit Ticket!

Members of the adoption community are invited to watch the virtual summit for FREE on September 23-27, 2019, or for a small fee, you can purchase an All-Access Pass to get access to the summit videos for 12 months along with a variety of other benefits.